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Basile quits Racing amid Gutierrez gun reports

Former Argentina coach Alfio Basile resigned from Racing Club after they had two men sent off in a 4-1 derby defeat by Independiente, which led to unhappy players allegedly fighting in the changing room.

Published

16 April 2012

Controversial striker Teo Gutierrez left Racing with nine men for the last 21 minutes after his dismissal for apparently insulting the referee. He was later alleged to have confronted team-mates with a paintball gun after a fight in the changing room.

Basile, a former Argentine, South American and World Club title winner with Racing as a defender in the 1960s, took charge in January but failed to bring the best out of a talented squad with only two wins and three draws in 10 Clausura championship matches.

"After taking a few hours to think about it, Alfio Basile decided to resign as coach of the club's first team along with his coaching staff," Racing said on their website on Sunday.

Basile, who had supported the problematic Gutierrez and pinned his hopes on the Colombian leading Racing's title challenge from the front, had been quoted as saying in the heat of Saturday's result: "No way I'm staying."

The 26-year-old Gutierrez scored the opening goal in Saturday's defeat but it was only his third of the championship, taking his league tally in 14 months at Racing to 20.

CHANGING ROOM FIGHT

Unconfirmed media reports said there was fighting in the Racing changing room at Independiente's Libertadores de America ground as the players turned on the talented Gutierrez for another senseless red card, his second of the year and fourth in Argentina.

Goalkeeper and captain Sebastian Saja was said to have come to blows with Gutierrez, who then pulled a paintball gun out of his bag and threatened players with it. The squad boarded the team bus without talking to reporters and Gutierrez left alone afterwards in a taxi.

Basile's assistant Claudio Ubeda, speaking to Fox Sports on Sunday, said: "What I experienced in the changing room I've never experienced before in my career.

"Regardless of the fact Teo is a good footballer, measures must be taken or there will be problems with the whole squad major surgery is needed. If I had to take a decision, Teo Gutierrez wouldn't play for me again."

Basile, who has also coached Boca Juniors and Atletico Madrid, steered Argentina to their last major trophies at the Copa America in 1991 and 1993 and took them to his third final in 2007 during a second spell as national team boss.

However, at 68, he may now throw in the towel. He had been out of work for more than a year when he took the Racing vacancy following Diego Simeone's departure to Atletico Madrid in December saying it was out of love of the club he supports and a desire to make the fans happy.

Racing appear to have gone for youth to replace Basile with media reports saying 31-year-old Argentine former Lanus coach Luis Zubeldia, who has just left Barcelona of Ecuador, was taking the vacancy.

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